Indigo Integrative Health Clinichttp://indigohealthclinic.com
A Concierge Medical PracticeThu, 08 Dec 2016 18:33:28 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.6.1Earth-Friendly Diet Resolutionshttp://indigohealthclinic.com/earth-friendly-diet-resolutions/
Sat, 03 Dec 2016 22:14:31 +0000http://indigohealthclinic.com/?p=3362Too many of us have become Eco-Zombies… careless about the relationship between the health of the planet and the health of our own bodies and minds. From farm to fork, the way food is grown, processed, and distributed affects not only its quality and variety, but also impacts our health and the sustainability of Mother … Continue reading Earth-Friendly Diet Resolutions→

Too many of us have become Eco-Zombies… careless about the relationship between the health of the planet and the health of our own bodies and minds. From farm to fork, the way food is grown, processed, and distributed affects not only its quality and variety, but also impacts our health and the sustainability of Mother Earth. That’s why a lot of people who are concerned about both the size of their waist and recent extremes in climate change are making Earth-friendly diet resolutions.

A useful starting point for understanding the relationship between the environment and your health is “planetary boundaries,” or tipping points in our planet’s natural air, land, and water systems. Recently, a team of 28 internationally renowned scientists identified these boundaries and related changes in natural systems, such as air quality, biodiversity, and land use.

Breaches to these boundaries and the altered environmental trajectories could result in rapid, irreversible changes that threaten the conditions under which humanity can thrive on Earth. According to the scientists, 3 of the 9 planetary boundaries have already been crossed: climate change, biodiversity, and the global nitrogen cycle.

The direct and indirect effects are seen in loss of biodiversity; soil, air and water pollution; polar ice melting; rising sea levels; ocean acidification; species endangerment and alterations in habitats; and inadequate development of water and land resources to meet food and energy needs. These changes have inexorable effects on human health, including increases in food and waterborne disease; disease carried by wildlife (e.g., Lyme, West Nile, Ebola), malnutrition, and rising rates of cancer, heart disease, respiratory illness, and diabetes.

Our reliance on factory farms- a.k.a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations or CAFOs- is a big contributor to environmental rifts and the degradation of health. Most meat, poultry, eggs and dairy sold in the U.S. come from CAFOs, a major driver of deforestation, habitat destruction, and climate change. To prevent disease and promote faster growth, these animals are given hormones and antibiotics. Overuse of antibiotics contributes to antibiotic resistance, a serious public health problem. Animal feed consists largely of subsidized Genetically Modified (GMO) grains grown with toxic pesticides and fertilizer, which end up in the water supply and on our produce.

“Grass-fed” beef may be more humane for animals but even the most humane farming practices wreak havoc on ecosystems. We have to feed billions of people, too many of whom consume too much of any kind of meat.

Fish aren’t off the hook, either. Over-fishing has depleted many marine species and degraded marine ecosystems. Fish farms face similar problems to CFAOs. When it comes to reducing the negative impact food production on the planet, reducing seafood consumption is part of the equation. If you need any convincing or want to educated yourself on what is actually happening with our marine life, watch the documentary, End of the Line.

EARTH-FRIENDLY DIET RESOLUTIONS

Every day, you have three chances to choose a healthy, Earth-friendly diet consisting of more fruits, veggies, and legumes and no (or less and more carefully chosen) meat, dairy, eggs, and fish. In turn, you’ll create a healthier future for yourself and Mother Earth.

GROW YOUR FOOD

Growing food helps save money, reduce the environmental cost of factory farming, and gives the whole family an “agri-education.” Use organic soil, compost, and practice conservation-friendly watering to help your garden grow. If you don’t have a lot of land, opt for a Tower Garden or something similar. If permitted, look into community or roof-top gardens. There are options to get involved and start growing your own food.

EAT ORGANIC, SEASONALLY & LOCALLY

Choose organic and in-season foods from local farms (Community Supported Agriculture- CSA) to support your local economy. Eating in season decreases your chances of developing food sensitivities. We are not meant to eat the same thing every day.

Go Meatless on Mondays. Just 1 day a week, try replacing meat-based recipes with savory vegetarian options. If possible, limit meat consumption to 2-3 times per week. You don’t need to eat animal protein with every meal to get your daily requirements of protein. In our society, we are over consuming protein which is highly acidic to the body. Dark leafy greens are alkalizing to the body. We have been highly misinformed to think that we need animal protein with every meal.

Start a Farm-to-School Program. Talk with local public schools about partnering with CSA farms and serving vegetarian options to students. Get as much local organic produce in kids schools as possible. Healthy habits start young. Eating organic nutrient dense foods positively impacts both health and learning.

Support GMO Labeling. The only way to know if a food has been genetically manipulated is for labels to indicate products are GMO- free. When it comes to your inbox, sign petitions for GMO labeling laws. The U.S. is one of the few countries left that continues to permit GMO food. If a label reads anything “modified” then high changes it is GMO. Corn and soy ingredients are likely to be GMO, unless stated otherwise.

]]>Root Canals and Chronic Diseasehttp://indigohealthclinic.com/root-canals/
Mon, 14 Nov 2016 14:23:03 +0000http://indigohealthclinic.com/?p=3343In the 1930s Dr. Weston A. Price traveled the world studying teeth, bones, and diets of native populations who have not been introduced to modern food. He was one of the first researches to understand the link between root canals and illness. Through years of research, Dr. Price discovered it’s mechanically impossible to sterilize a … Continue reading Root Canals and Chronic Disease→

]]>In the 1930s Dr. Weston A. Price traveled the world studying teeth, bones, and diets of native populations who have not been introduced to modern food. He was one of the first researches to understand the link between root canals and illness. Through years of research, Dr. Price discovered it’s mechanically impossible to sterilize a root canaled tooth. Many chronic degenerative diseases have been linked with root canals, including heart and kidney disease, arthritis, joint and rheumatic disease, neurological diseases like ALS and MS, and autoimmune diseases like lupus and even cancer.

“The American Dental Association claims root canals have been proven safe, but there is no actual published data or research to substantiate this claim,” says Dr. Mercola. The root canal is performed in the U.S. more than 25 million times every year. When a dentist performs a root canal, the tooth is hollowed and filled with gutta-percha, which cuts off the tooth from its blood supply and fluid no longer circulates through the tooth. Each of your teeth has a maze of tiny tubules that, if stretched out, would extend for three miles. Bacteria cut off from their food supply and deprived of oxygen hide in these tubules, safe from your body’s immune system and antibiotics.

The argument is that leaving in a dead tooth as a silent incubator for highly toxic anaerobic bacteria cannot be good for the body. It is common for such an infection to extend down into the jawbone where it creates cavitations- areas of necrotic tissue in the jawbone itself. Fortunately with a strong immune system, any bacteria venturing away from an infected tooth are captured and destroyed. However, if your immune system is compromised due to an illness, trauma, an accident or high levels of chronic stress, it may be unable to control such an infection. The bacteria may migrate to a new location like an organ, gland or other tissue.

Dr. Robert Jones, a researcher of the relationship between root canals and breast cancer, found an extremely high correlation between the two. In a five-year study of 300 breast cancer cases, 93 percent of women with breast cancer had root canals and tumors in the majority of cases, occurred on the same side of the body as the root canal(s).

If you already have a root canal, like many of us do, the options are to have the tooth removed and get a partial denture, bridge or zirconium implant. If you either choose to leave the root canaled tooth in or are in need of a root canal and are opting to have one, it’s time to place all focus on building a strong immune system. Consume an organic diet locally grown and in season, free from processed food and sugar, eat fermented foods if your gut is healthy enough, stay away from pasteurized dairy products, make sure to brush and floss properly, oil pull and deal with your emotions. Each tooth is linked to organs, meridians and emotions.

Your local dentist will have lots of objections to these statements. That’s okay, do your own research, formulate your own opinion, and make your mouth your own responsibility. The American Dental Association claims it’s a “myth” that the bacteria found in and around root canaled teeth can cause disease. However, the bacteria in these diseased teeth are not the same as the normal bacteria in your mouth. Either way, the verdict is still out on whether or not root canals may lead to chronic disease, but if you’ve tried everything else and you continue to not see the results you seek, the answers may be in your mouth.

Place your health in the helping hands of a holistic or biological dentist. Visit www.toxicteeth.org to find a biological dentist in your area. Search for accredited members of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) or the International Academy of Biological Dentistry and Medicine (IABDM).

]]>Brain fog is common and affects thousands of people, both children and adults. Cloudy brain fog has become an undesirable side-effect of our fast-paced, modern lifestyle. Forgetfulness, confusion, trouble concentrating, communicating and remembering information, disorganization, hard time finding the right words to finish a thought, mental cloudiness and fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) aka myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), irritability, insomnia, moodiness, depression, anxiety and generally feeling “off” are all but a few symptoms of brain fog. Sound familiar?

Unfortunately brain fog is not easily diagnosed and has a surplus of reasons for its existence. Brain fog is rooted in a lifestyle that promotes inflammation and hormonal imbalances, exacerbated by physical and emotional stress. Inflammation, at the root of most diseases, is caused by low-grade over-activity of the immune system and is tied to mental disorders like depression, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. As seen in pregnancy brain and menopause, changes to the three primary hormones that determine your mood (dopamine), energy (serotonin), and focus (cortisol) may lead to brain fog. Additionally, low thyroid function, adrenal insufficiency, CFS, dehydration, heavy metal exposure, infected root canals, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels), bowel toxicity, constipation, Candida overgrowth and imbalance, parasites, Lyme disease, and viral infections may all affect the brain, weaken the mind and contribute to brain fog.

Nutritional and biochemical imbalances affect the brain and central nervous system (CNS) of the body. Leaky gut can lead to leaky brain, which makes a clean diet a necessity. Processed food, factory farmed meats, nutrient deficiencies, sugar overload, alcohol consumption (suppresses the CNS), refined carbohydrates, caffeine overdose (stresses the adrenals), gluten and other food sensitivities, and food additives all need to be managed.

To get a head start on alleviating brain fog, start tidying up your diet. Cut out the refined processed sugar and gluten, test for food sensitivities and follow a strict elimination diet. Stay away from low-fat diets, grains, and GMO foods. The human body requires a steady supply of amino acids and essential fatty acids to make all the brain chemicals needed to think clearly so eat plenty of healthy fats and grass-fed organic protein. Also load up on organic veggies and fruits, they realign hormones and reduce inflammation. Remember how your gut and brain are intertwined and powerfully connected? Your gut is your second brain.

Exercise to produce natural endorphins and break a sweat to releases toxins from your body. Moderate and regular exercise can help balance hormones, improve insulin resistance and help you sleep better. Get a hold of stress by engaging in relaxation practices like deep breathing, massage, meditation, journaling, praying, reading and yoga. Spend time outdoors every day in nature. Improve your sleep hygiene and get adequate rest every night. Most importantly, to release dopamine and enhance your mood- do something fun every day and laugh out loud!

Check out our Indigo IV Lounge and how it can give you the boost of vitamins, minerals and nutrients you need directly delivered to your bloodstream today. Get out of feeling cloudy brain fog and schedule your appointment today. We can help!

]]>Parasites Leading to Chronic Diseaseshttp://indigohealthclinic.com/parasites-leading-chronic-diseases/
Mon, 12 Sep 2016 17:11:16 +0000http://indigohealthclinic.com/?p=3243Apparently these little critters need more airtime. Parasites are a big obstacle to cure. Let’s face it, as much as we would love to believe that parasites are just a third world problem, it’s not true. In 1995, The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that over 60% of the world population carries at least one … Continue reading Parasites Leading to Chronic Diseases→

]]>Apparently these little critters need more airtime. Parasites are a big obstacle to cure. Let’s face it, as much as we would love to believe that parasites are just a third world problem, it’s not true. In 1995, The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that over 60% of the world population carries at least one parasite. As a culture, we like to ignore their existence, but these nasty guys continue to feed off us and if not addressed can lead to serious chronic diseases.

In biology, the term parasite strictly refers to protozoa (single celled organisms), arthropods (insects) and worms that invade and feed off the host organism, often causing them harm. Parasites can range from microscopic single cell protozoa to worms that are 15 feet long. Parasites can be picked up from contaminated food and water supplies, poor personal hygiene, head lice, mites, ticks, fleas, pets, meat, fish, and travelling in undeveloped regions.

Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt, a leading physician in Lyme disease and founder of the Klinghardt Academy, addresses the parasite load first and foremost when treating Lyme disease because parasites carry the Lyme DNA and replicate with a vengeance. Without a parasite cleanse Lyme disease treatment may be ineffective and patients may never see long-term improvement.

These foreign invaders overload the liver and accumulate in the organs, muscles, lymphatic system and nervous system. Parasites are also capable of migrating from the intestines to organs, joints and muscles and can depress the immune system by excreting toxic waste products into the body. An unresolved parasite infestation may lead to chronic diseases such as leaky gut, Multiple Sclerosis, asthma, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, skin disorders, depression, brain fog and memory loss.

Dr. Stephen Frye is doing some exciting work on a new biofilm-forming protozoan previously referred to as FL1953, now known as Protomyxzoa rheumatica, a highly immunosuppressive microorganism causing chronic disease. He has found it is almost always present in patients with Lyme disease. Protomyxzoa is found in people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Fibromyalgia, Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, and Rheumatoid Arthritis. It is in the “malaria family” of protozoans, along with babesia and malaria, based on DNA sequencing. Protomyxzoa will cause capillary inflammation and reduced blood flow in locations where it accumulates. It surrounds itself with thick biofilm substances to protect itself from the host immune system. Dr. Frye has found 75 medical papers dating back to the 1880’s that discuss finding a malaria-like organism in blood from Multiple Sclerosis patients.

A study reported in the Journal of Nutritional Medicine revealed that out of over 400 chronic fatigue immune deficiency syndrome (CFIDS) patients in New York, an incredible 93 percent had some form of parasitic infestation. It further reported that 80% of the patients showed significant improvement of fatigue after receiving treatment for the parasitic infection.

It is important to work with a health practitioner who can help you eradicate the parasites and begin healing your immune system by improving digestion, reducing inflammatory triggers and healing your gut.

“Make no mistake about it, worms are the most toxic agents in the human body. They are one of the primary underlying causes of disease and are the most basic cause of compromised immune system.”

]]>MTHFR Gene Mutations and Methylationhttp://indigohealthclinic.com/mthfr-gene-mutations-methylation/
Sun, 04 Sep 2016 13:13:07 +0000http://indigohealthclinic.com/?p=3221We are in the age of increased awareness about our unique genetic makeup that can support or hinder our ability to process what we consume, as well as the environmental toxins we face on a daily basis. If there is a mutation in our genes, which is a common occurrence, our ability to fight disease … Continue reading MTHFR Gene Mutations and Methylation→

]]>We are in the age of increased awareness about our unique genetic makeup that can support or hinder our ability to process what we consume, as well as the environmental toxins we face on a daily basis. If there is a mutation in our genes, which is a common occurrence, our ability to fight disease and feel vibrant is compromised, as we are unable to detoxify and absorb nutrients as our amazing bodily machines were meant to do on their own. To comprehend a body’s full potential is to understand about the methylation system and realize how best to seek guidance to discover each individual’s capacity to enhance this process.

MTHFR, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, is an enzyme that adds a methyl group to folic acid or folate (vitamin B-9) to make it usable by the body. Folic acid, essential for human growth and development, encourages normal nerve and proper brain functioning and helps reduce blood levels of the amino acid, homocysteine. It is given to women who are pregnant or as a part of a prenatal vitamin to help prevent birth defects of the baby’s brain and spinal cord like Spina Bifida.

Homocysteine is a breakdown product of protein metabolism. Elevated homocysteine levels have been associated with inflammation and heart disease, strokes, increased risk of plaque formation, birth defects, difficult pregnancies, and potentially an impaired ability to detoxify.

The MTHFR enzyme is important for converting homocysteine into methionine, which the body needs for proper metabolism, protein synthesis, muscle growth and glutathione creation. Glutathione is the most important master antioxidant and detoxifier of every cell in your body. It is the antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals and prevents cellular damage. Regular glutathione intravenous therapy is a terrific idea for boosting your body’s ability to detoxify.

The process of methylation also involves the MTHFR enzyme, so those with a mutation may have trouble effectively eliminating all toxins from the body—environmental, internal, heavy metals and alcohol. With the persistent growth of environmental toxins surrounding us, keeping our methylation optimally functioning is vital for health. Research estimates that as much as half of the population may have an MTHFR gene mutation, which leads to a highly reduced ability to convert folic acid or folate into its usable form 5-MTHF. This can cause folic acid to build up in the body and raise homocysteine levels.

Methylation is a vital metabolic process that happens in every cell and every organ of our body. It is the process of taking a methyl group from the activated form of folate 5MTHF, and applying it to countless critical functions in your body that include thinking, repairing DNA, turning genes on and off, fighting infections and getting rid of toxins. 5MTHF is also used in the process of creating neurotransmitters, creating immune cells and process hormones like estrogen.

Lingering fatigue, fogginess, anxiety, sleep issues and inability to effectively deal with alcohol and other toxins can be a result of an underlying gene mutation like the MTHFR mutation. Stress in all forms inhibits methylation. For example, when you drink alcohol, it is your liver’s job to process it using methylation and if you are deficient in nutrients or are stressed, you will experience hangover symptoms because your liver is unable to complete the methylation process effectively.

The right healthcare practitioner can take your 23andMe saliva test and evaluate the raw data by developing a report and creating an individualized supplementation protocol based on your genetic variants and conditions. The 23andMe report discusses genetic variants based on the 5 methylation pathway cycles: the Urea Cycle, Neurotransmitter Cycle, Folate Cycle, Methionine Cycle and the Transulfuration Cycle.

]]>The Power of Family Constellations On Healthhttp://indigohealthclinic.com/power-family-constellations-health/
Sun, 04 Sep 2016 12:00:32 +0000http://indigohealthclinic.com/?p=3217Emotional and psychological wellness is a result of what we think, learn, experience and suffer, and how we interpret our lives. Additionally, we are influenced by the energy we receive from our ancestors. The flow of qi energy that is available to us from our parents (alive or deceased), is dependent on our ability to … Continue reading The Power of Family Constellations On Health→

]]>Emotional and psychological wellness is a result of what we think, learn, experience and suffer, and how we interpret our lives. Additionally, we are influenced by the energy we receive from our ancestors. The flow of qi energy that is available to us from our parents (alive or deceased), is dependent on our ability to open up to them, how much we can respect and honor them. According to Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt who has been practicing family constellations for over fifteen years, when we look back at our ancestry it must be with respect whereas looking forward must be with love.

There are many things that may stand in the way of embracing the simple love of our parents, grandparents and more distant ancestors- traumatic childhood experiences, misunderstandings, and the consequences of neglect, blame, and non-forgiveness. Illness is often and largely a consequence of unhealed wounds in the distant past, often several generations back.

Major shifts in health and well-being, perception, and understanding are possible from family constellation work. There is no time and space in this work, allowing for true healing across all generations.

WHAT IS FAMILY CONSTELLATIONS?

Family Constellation is a trans-generational therapeutic intervention based in family systems therapy, existential-phenomenology, and the ancestral traditions of the South African Zulus. The founder of this work is Bert Hellinger, a German psychotherapist and family therapist who studied and treated families for more than 50 years. Hellinger discovered that the family system, just like any other system, has its own natural order and when that order is disrupted, the effects are felt by subsequent generations as the system tries to right itself.

There are certain natural laws that are in place to maintain the order in the family that permit the free flow of love between family members. In the family system each member of the family should take their appropriate and actual place, take care of his or herself, and avoid intervening in others destiny. There are fundamental needs that exist in all of the relationships in a system- the need to belong (bonding), the need to maintain a balance of giving and taking (equilibrium), and the need for the safety of social convention and predictability (order).

When there is a disruption to the natural order of the system, the destiny of one person in the family is entangled detrimentally into another family member’s life and the effects of these entanglements can be felt by subsequent generations. As a consequence, these effects are manifested as: suicide, depression, childlessness, mental or physical illness, and addictions.

Each constellation begins with a thorough investigation of one’s own family history. We search for those in the family that died early and were forgotten, husbands and wives that were betrayed, cheated on or separated from their children and loved ones, those whose love was not seen, who were disabled, ill or addicted, ridiculed or marginalized. We also look into family members that may have been perpetrators, murderers or victims, shamed, abused or abandoned. The participant then selects from the audience representatives for his or herself and those family members in question. Soon the participants start to think, feel and behave as if they were the very people whom they are representing and the hidden dynamics in a family are revealed and accurately depicted.

The net outcome is an increased flow of love and compassion between the real family members. Physical illness that has not responded to any other healing modality often changes its course for the better. Family Constellations allow us to break trans-generational patterns so that we can live healthier, happier, more fulfilled lives. In a moment of insight, a new life course can be set in motion within a family system and the results can be life changing.

]]>Vitamin Injections, A Shot Without the Hangoverhttp://indigohealthclinic.com/vitamin-injections/
Tue, 14 Jun 2016 13:22:32 +0000http://indigohealthclinic.com/?p=3035From popping supplements a few times a day to intravenous infusions once a week, vitamin injections is a great way to get your vitamins and minerals. However, there is a third option available to you that is also very effective- vitamin shots aka injections. Vitamin shots are energy packed formulations of vitamins, minerals, amino acids … Continue reading Vitamin Injections, A Shot Without the Hangover→

]]>From popping supplements a few times a day to intravenous infusions once a week, vitamin injections is a great way to get your vitamins and minerals. However, there is a third option available to you that is also very effective- vitamin shots aka injections. Vitamin shots are energy packed formulations of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants, delivered straight to your gluteus maximus. Although our west coast friends have paved the way for the vitamin shot culture, the east is catching on to these super beneficial nutrient dense cocktails. Not only are they easy to administer but they work quickly in optimizing your body.

Surely you’ve heard of the vitamin B12 and D3 injections that have become popular.

The best form of vitamin B12 is methylcobalamin, which does more than prevent anemia. B12 is important for energy, DNA and red blood cell production, it slows cognitive decline by producing acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that helps with memory and learning, it helps produce myelin, the fatty substance protecting your nerve endings, it helps with depression by improving mood, and B12 works with folic acid to lower homocysteine levels in the blood and greatly reduce your risk for heart disease and stroke.

If that wasn’t enough, vitamin B12 also increases energy, mental awareness and alertness, reduces allergies, prevents stress and anxiety, and improves sleep. If you are vegan or vegetarian, it is important to check your vitamin B12 levels because the primary source of vitamin B12 is animal products (meat, poultry, fish, and eggs). It may take up to two years for your body to become vitamin B12 depleted and for symptoms like depression to arise.

Vitamin D3, known as the sunshine vitamin has an important role in supporting the cardiovascular system, blood sugar balance, increases musculoskeletal strength, as well as neurological and immune function enabled by its ability to target over 200 different genes throughout the body. Vitamin D3 is the preferable form, as it has been found to maintain active vitamin D levels for a longer period of time. If your vitamin D3 levels are low, a vitamin D3 injection is the best and most efficient way to increase your body’s vitamin D3 blood levels.

In addition to vitamin B12, other nutrients that can go into your special shot include vitamin B complex, vitamins B5 and B6, glutathione and MIC (methionine inositol choline) to name a few.

Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) plays a role in maintaining a healthy digestive tract, aids in red blood cell production, and is great adrenal support for managing stress.

Glutathione, the mother of all antioxidants, is a potent detoxifier for the liver and body. It is also helpful in athletic recovery and performance. Due to high levels of oxidative stress on the body from a toxic lifestyle (food, prescription drugs, emotional trauma, physical stress, and environmental pollution), the glutathione naturally made in the body gets depleted fast.

MIC contains inositol, a fat burning substance that helps the liver remove fat; choline, which distributes cholesterol and prevents it from getting deposited in one part of the body; and methionine, which is similar to inositol and amplifies the combination.

Starting off with vitamin injections to quickly build the body’s reserves and then maintaining with oral supplementation is both an effective and efficient approach. Vitamin injections are both faster than an intravenous infusion and oral supplementation, and offer many energy-boosting and body optimization benefits. Ask your naturopathic physician if vitamin shots would be a good fit for you.

]]>Micronutrient Testing and Optimal Healthhttp://indigohealthclinic.com/micronutrient-testing-optimal-health/
Mon, 09 May 2016 15:52:09 +0000http://indigohealthclinic.com/?p=2965Every day we are flooded with health information on the latest super food and vitamin supplement that we should be taking because it’s good for us. How do we know for sure if the supplements we are taking are right for us? How do we know if these supplements are doing any good? Further so, … Continue reading Micronutrient Testing and Optimal Health→

]]>Every day we are flooded with health information on the latest super food and vitamin supplement that we should be taking because it’s good for us. How do we know for sure if the supplements we are taking are right for us? How do we know if these supplements are doing any good? Further so, taking more of one nutrient may cause imbalances and actually induce deficiencies in other nutrients. Many medications deplete nutrients and intense exercise may increase nutrient requirements. Micronutrient testing is the best way to assess the body’s needs and requirements of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and amino acids.

Nutritional balance is very important in optimal wellness, chronic disease prevention and managing the aging process. There is a micronutrient test that offers the most accurate, scientifically proven method for assessing nutritional deficiencies. The micronutrient test measures the function of 35 nutritional components including vitamins like vitamin A, all the B vitamins, C, D, E and K, minerals such as calcium, magnesium and zinc, amino acids like glutamine and serine and antioxidants like Coenzyme Q10, glutathione, and lipoic acid, to name a few. These are measured within your white blood cells. Scientific evidence shows that analyzing the white blood cells gives us the most accurate analysis of a body’s deficiencies.

By assessing the intracellular requirements of micronutrients, we are able to assess the body’s needs for these micronutrients that enable the body to produce enzymes, hormones, and other substances essential for proper growth, development and good health. Nutritional deficiencies have been shown to affect the function of the immune system, which in the long run can contribute to degenerative processes. A micronutrient test provides the basis of a personalized, functional approach in addressing a broad variety of clinical conditions including arthritis, cancer, cardiovascular risk, diabetes, various immunological disorders, metabolic disorders and micronutrient deficiencies.

Sometimes eating a balanced diet, exercising and taking a multivitamin is not enough for complete health optimization. Many diseases have at their root cause a nutrient deficiency. Micronutrient testing is preventative care. If you are seeking a higher level of wellness, you need a personalized blueprint to your supplement schedule with targeted nutrient repletion recommendations for the deficiencies identified. Through micronutrient testing, you get a window into your body you normally wouldn’t have that provides important information on nutrient deficiencies you otherwise wouldn’t know exist.

]]>Functional Medicine Is Naturopathyhttp://indigohealthclinic.com/functional-medicine-naturopathy/
Mon, 11 Apr 2016 15:43:10 +0000http://indigohealthclinic.com/?p=2934As the movement for Functional Medicine arises, let’s not forget where it originates. Dr. Jeffrey Bland, PhD, who is widely considered one of functional medicine’s leading pioneers, launched the functional-medicine movement about 30 years ago after he grew frustrated with what he calls “fragmented, organ-based specialty care.” Dr. Bland was the first member of the … Continue reading Functional Medicine Is Naturopathy→

]]>As the movement for Functional Medicine arises, let’s not forget where it originates. Dr. Jeffrey Bland, PhD, who is widely considered one of functional medicine’s leading pioneers, launched the functional-medicine movement about 30 years ago after he grew frustrated with what he calls “fragmented, organ-based specialty care.” Dr. Bland was the first member of the Board of Trustees of Bastyr University (a naturopathic medical school) in Washington State, the first federally accredited university in the United States offering graduate and undergraduate degrees in natural medicine, and contributed significantly to its founding and accreditation.

Although the United States is spending more on health care than the next ten-top spending countries combined, we have the most chronic disease and shortest life span of all industrialized nations. We have the best advancements in life saving surgeries and emergency care, but when it comes to chronic health conditions, we have missed the mark entirely. Are you aware that 84% of health care costs in the U.S. is towards treating lifestyle preventable chronic disease? It is estimated that we could spend $47 trillion over the next 20 years on lifestyle preventable chronic disease. Fortunately, through naturopathic and functional medicine, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Both naturopathic and functional medicines interpret labs differently from our conventional model. Both run more extensive labs (stool test, gluten and food sensitivity, Lyme titers, adrenal stress profile, macronutrient testing), customize health care, spend more one-on-one time with patients, address underlying dysfunctions and root cause, and use natural treatments. Additionally, both view the patient as genetically and biochemically unique, providing personalized health care that treats the whole person and root cause of the disease, not the disease itself. When we create a healthy ecosystem in the body, health happens.

Like naturopathic medicine, functional medicine is a wonderful approach to health and provides MD’s and other health care professionals the opportunity to look outside of the conventional model. It allows health care professionals to use science-based medicine that understands the web-like interactions among the body’s physiological processes and how they affect every aspect of functionality. The body has the innate ability to heal itself, through a dynamic balance of all body systems. Everything affects everything else in the body and works together as a whole to create health.

Regardless of which health care system you go with, when it comes to treating dis-ease, remove what causes the imbalance and provide what creates balance. Ask yourself these two vital questions:

What am I putting in my body that my body is not agreeing with?

What do I need to put in my body for my body to function better?

The environment drives ninety percent of chronic disease. Stress, toxins, drug exposures, pollution, all set the stage for the emergence of imbalance. Our environment shapes the structure and function of our internal ecosystem. Nutrients and phytochemicals, or lack thereof, speak to our genes. Every bite you take speaks to your biology and has the power to change your microbiome and gene expression within minutes. Even our social networks influence health and disease because chronic disease and illness is a social disease that requires a social cure.

]]>Death By Gluten & Gluten Sensitivityhttp://indigohealthclinic.com/death-by-gluten-gluten-sensitivity/
Mon, 11 Apr 2016 12:20:02 +0000http://indigohealthclinic.com/?p=2927Is Your Gluten Sensitivity Putting You At Risk? The Latin word for “glue” is gluten, a substance found in numerous grains. Although gluten is found in most grains, including rice, the form of gluten associated with the most adverse health issues is found particularly in wheat (spelt, kamut, durum, semolina, triticale, rye, and barley). Gluten … Continue reading Death By Gluten & Gluten Sensitivity→

The Latin word for “glue” is gluten, a substance found in numerous grains. Although gluten is found in most grains, including rice, the form of gluten associated with the most adverse health issues is found particularly in wheat (spelt, kamut, durum, semolina, triticale, rye, and barley). Gluten is made up of hundreds of peptides but because only one is tested for, you may still have undiagnosed underlying gluten sensitivity.

In retrospect, gluten is a very new inclusion to the diet, differing from our original hunter-gatherer diet, and is essentially impossible for us to digest. Problems with gluten are becoming an epidemic and public awareness about this issue is poorly understood by most. Cancer, heart disease, autoimmunity- the consequences of gluten exposure are very real. Gluten may be the silent root cause of many physical and mental health challenges. The presence of exorphins (morphine-like compounds) in grains make gluten-containing grains addictive for large numbers of people.

The prefrontal cortex, our brain’s executive function control center, is the part of our brain that allows us to focus, manage emotional stress, plan, organize and exercise our short-term memory. Exposure to gluten in a sensitive individual essentially shuts down blood flow to the prefrontal cortex. It’s likely you have heard about leaky gut but have you heard about leaky brain? The damage and neurodegeneration this can cause over time, together with sympathetic fight or flight nervous system hyper-arousal can be significant.

Gluten is the gateway food sensitivity, which increases zonulin, an enzyme in the body that controls intestinal and blood-brain barrier permeability. Your gut lining is composed of cells that form tight junctions and when you eat aggravating foods like gluten that cause chronic inflammation in the body, these tight junctions start to form spaces where there should be none. This runs havoc on your immune system allowing for other food sensitivities and toxins to enter your bloodstream. A build up of this chronic inflammation will cause dis-ease. Undigested proteins that slip past these barriers cause additional immunological reactions to other foods. The milk protein, casein, is the most common co-sensitivity and cross-reactive compound with gluten. The immune system can react to anything if gluten consumption persists.

Over the years wheat has been drastically hybridized and now even genetically modified. Each time wheat is altered, it creates new proteins that are foreign to us. A study published in 2009 in the peer review journal, Gastroenterology compared 10,000 available blood samples from individuals 50 years ago to 10,000 people today and found a 400% increase in the incidence of full blown celiac disease (total villous atrophy of the small intestine. Both celiac disease and gluten sensitivity are autoimmune conditions that create inflammation and negative immune system effects throughout the body. The increased mortality risks associated with both happen to virtually be identical.

We already have enough on our hands to deal with, from processed foods, depleted soils, environmental contaminants, and pesticide use to increasing heavy metal contamination, fluoride, radiation exposure and EMF. Let’s avoid adding gluten to the mix of things that weaken our immune system. Odds are against us and in order to beat the odds we have to eliminate as many culprits as possible as soon as possible. To determine your degree of gluten sensitivity, ask your naturopathic doctor about the Array 3 panel offered by Cyrex Labs. Cyrex offers by far the most advanced, comprehensive, sensitive and accurate testing of any other lab in the world right now, setting a new Gold Standard among the naturopathic community.

Bottom line is steer clear of gluten, or you may be putting yourself at serious risk for dis-ease.

However, as we are aware of how difficult it is for some to kick gluten to the curb, check out these heritage grains as healthier alternatives to wheat. Our friends at Positive Health Wellness have written a lovely article about Heritage Grains and Their Benefits In A Gluten Free Diet.